Method and apparatus for disinfecting a water cooler reservoir and its dispensing spigot(s)

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for providing sanitized water in a bottled water dispenser includes a reservoir and one or more dispensing spigots. An ozone generating system generates ozone for sanitizing the water. Ozone is generated and collected within an ozone generator housing. A blower transmits air to the housing, the air carrying the ozone through flowlines to an air diffuser that is positioned inside the reservoir of the water dispenser. The flowlines can be used to sanitize one or more of the reservoir, spigot(s), and/or channel that connects the reservoir and spigot(s). A return flowline or lines can return ozone from the spigot to one or both of the channel and/or reservoir for further use in sanitization.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

[0002] Not applicable

BACKGROUND

[0003] The present invention relates to bottled water dispensers, andmore particularly to an improved bottled water dispenser for dispensingwater that has been sanitized using ozone. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an improved method and apparatus forsanitizing a water cooler reservoir, its dispensing spigots, and theflow channel that connects the reservoir and spigot(s).

[0004] One of the most common types of commercially available bottledwater dispensers is a floor standing cabinet having an open top thatreceives a large inverted bottle. The bottle is typically of a plasticor glass material having a constricted neck. The bottle is turned upsidedown and placed on the top of the cabinet with the neck of the bottleextending into a water filled reservoir. The water seeks its own levelin the reservoir during use.

[0005] The cabinet provides one or more spigots for dispensing water,typically one being for cooled water, one being for ambient temperaturewater, and optionally a hot water spigot can be provided. As a userdraws water from a spigot dispenser, the liquid level in the reservoirdrops until it falls below the neck of the bottle at which time waterflows from the bottle and bubbles enter the bottle until pressure hasequalized.

[0006] These types of inverted bottle water dispensers are sold by anumber of companies in the United States. Many are refrigerated. Somehave heating elements. There are other types of water dispensers thatemploy a cabinet with spigots. Some receive water directly from a pipedsource. Others pump water from a contained water bottle or source thatis hidden inside the cabinet.

[0007] One of the problems with bottled water dispensers such as theinverted bottle type is that of cleansing the unit from time to time.Because the top is not air tight, it “breathes” so that bacteria caneasily enter the reservoir over a period of time.

[0008] Five gallon bottles that are typically used in combination with acabinet are also a source of bacteria and germs. Most of these bottlesare transported on trucks where the bottles are exposed to outside air.They are handled by operators that typically grab the bottle at theneck, the very part of the bottle that communicates with a waterreservoir during use. Unfortunately, it is difficult to convince everyperson that handles these bottles to wash their hands frequently enough.

[0009] In order to properly sanitize such a water dispenser or cooler,the user must carefully clean the neck of the bottle prior to combiningthe bottle with the cabinet. Further, the user should drain and sanitizethe reservoir from time to time. The cleansing of the reservoir in sucha water dispenser is a time consuming project that is typically not doneoften enough. The spigots are also in need of sanitization as they areoften contacted by unsanitary drinking containers, human hands andchildren's mouths.

SUMMARY

[0010] The present invention provides an improved, self sanitizing waterdispenser apparatus as well as a method for generating ozone forcleaning the reservoir and the water contained within it.

[0011] The present invention provides a self sanitizing bottled waterdispenser that includes a cabinet holding a supply bottle of water to bedispensed. In some embodiments, water is pumped to the reservoir fromthe supply bottle. In other embodiments, water is piped directly to thereservoir from a water pipe system. Spigots on the cabinet dispense thewater. A reservoir can receive flow from the supply bottle.

[0012] The bottle contains water to be dispensed, and provides a neckportion and a dispensing outlet portion.

[0013] A reservoir contained within the cabinet next to the upper endportion thereof contains water with a water surface that communicateswith a bottle neck during use. Spigots dispense cold, ambient and/or hotwater. A refrigeration system cools the water within the reservoir. Adiffuser (eg. ring diffuser) emits bubbles into the reservoir, thediffuser being disposed within the reservoir at the lower end portionthereof. The diffuser can be placed next to the reservoir wall so thatbubbles emitted by the diffuser help scrub the wall.

[0014] An ozone generator module is supported within the housing. Airflow lines communicate with an air pump to carry ozone from the ozonegenerator housing to the diffuser. A blower can be provided to generateair flow, and a flow line connects the blower to the ozone generatorhousing.

[0015] A timer can be provided for activating the ozone generator at aselected time and for a selected time interval. The ozone generator isactivated for a selected time interval (e.g. a few minutes). After theselected time interval, the ozone generator is shut off.

[0016] The diffuser is preferably positioned around the side of thereservoir at the bottom of the reservoir, close to the intersection ofthe reservoir bottom wall and reservoir side wall.

[0017] The diffuser can be preferably circular in shape, and can have acomposite construction that includes a porous core that is partiallycovered with a non-porous coating.

[0018] A preferred embodiment provides a dispenser with water coolerspigot(s) capable of both being automatically sanitized with ozone aswell as providing a means for sanitizing the water channel between thereservoir and the spigot.

[0019] The ozone generating module cleanses and sanitizes the watercooler reservoir.

[0020] Two additional areas within the water cooler can be addressed bythe method and apparatus of the present invention to completely sanitizewater dispenser/cooler. The first is the water channel, comprised of thewatercourse within the spigot itself, lying behind the spigot valve andthe remaining watercourse between the spigot and the cooler reservoir.The second area is the spigot portion which is ahead of the valve. Thisspigot portion is the inside of the spigot dispenser tip that isalternately exposed to water, air, unsanitary drinking containers,children's mouths and occasional fingers.

[0021] In one embodiment the integration of two ozone gas supplysanitation channels into a spigot or faucet with associated connectorsand components is disclosed. The first ozone channel addresses the waterchannel. This first ozone channel is open to the water channel,immediately behind the spigot valve and is connected to the primaryozone supply. The ozone gas supply flow stream to the reservoir diffusercan be provided by means of a tee connection outside of the coolerreservoir. Incorporated within this ozone channel of the spigot is asmall ozone diffuser stone whose permeability is preferably matched tothat of the reservoir diffuser stone ring. This serves to match supplypressure facilitating proper functioning. The internal surface area ofthe stone's volume is much smaller than that of the diffuser ring, thusinsuring that a proportionally smaller amount of ozone gas istransferred to the small volume of water within the water channel. Theexisting ozone generating module check valve eliminates water fromsiphoning into the ozone generator.

[0022] The second ozone channel can consist of a preferably tangentialopening that tangentially intersects the spigot dispenser tip channel tosanitize the spigot tip outlet. Tangential flow creates a downwardspiral flow of heavier than air ozone gas that can be used to completelyengulf the outlet channel's surface and the valve seat. This channelextends to the air chamber at the top of the water cooler reservoir. Thebuild-up of ozone above the water level within the reservoir hassufficient concentration and pressure to serve as the supply forsanitizing the spigot tip outlet.

[0023] Since the spigot tip outlet is exposed to air, with the recycledozone transferring directly to air, the need for a diffuser iseliminated. The elevation of the orifice eliminates water build-up inthe chase after dispensing. Ozone gas is supplied to the spigot onlywhen the ozone generating module is in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, andadvantages of the present invention, reference should be made to thefollowing detailed description, read in conjunction with the followingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements andwherein:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of the preferred embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective exploded view of the preferredembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating theozone generator portion thereof;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a partial sectional elevational view of the preferredembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating thereservoir, bottle, and ozone diffuser portions thereof;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention illustrating the open reservoir andozone diffuser;

[0029]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

[0030]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the ozonediffuser and its position in relation to the reservoir;

[0031]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a preferred constructionfor the diffuser;

[0032]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the diffuser of FIG. 7showing only the porous body portion thereof;

[0033]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the diffuser of FIG. 7prior to a grinding of part of the non-porous surface therefrom;

[0034]FIG. 10 is a schematic, fragmentary view illustrating the diffuserof FIG. 7 during construction;

[0035]FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 7;

[0036]FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 7;

[0037]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating thediffuser of FIG. 7;

[0038]FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 7;

[0039]FIG. 15 is a sectional elevation view of a preferred embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention;

[0040]FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along lines 16-16 of FIG. 15;

[0041]FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along lines 17-17 of FIG. 15;

[0042]FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the alternate embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention;

[0043]FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along lines 19-19 of FIG. 15;

[0044]FIG. 20 is a sectional elevation view of the alternate embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention, and showing an alternateconstruction for the spigot;

[0045]FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along lines 21-21 of FIG. 20;

[0046]FIG. 22 is a sectional elevation view of the alternate embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention, showing another constructionfor the spigot; and

[0047]FIG. 23 is a sectional elevation view of the alternate embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention, showing another constructionfor the spigot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] FIGS. 1-3 show generally the preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention designated by the numeral 10 inFIG. 1. Water dispenser 10 provides an improved apparatus that sanitizesthe open reservoir from time to time with ozone. The apparatus 10includes a cabinet 11 having a lower end portion 12 and an upper endportion 13. The upper end portion 13 carries a cover 14 having anopening 17.

[0049] The opening 17 provides an annular flange 15 and a gasket 16 thatdefine an interface between cabinet 11 and bottle 18. The bottle 18 canbe any commercially available bottle, typically of a several gallonvolume (e.g. five gallons). The bottle 18 provides a constricted bottledneck 19 that is placed inside an open reservoir 20 as shown in FIGS. 1and 3 during use. The bottle neck 19 has an opening for communicatingwith a reservoir 20 at the interior of the cabinet 11 that holds thewater product to be dispensed and consumed. When the water level 25 inthe reservoir 210 is lowered during use, air bubbles enter the bottle 18and water replenishes the reservoir 20 until pressure equalizes.

[0050] The reservoir 20 has an interior 21 surrounded by reservoirsidewall 22 and reservoir bottom wall 23. The reservoir 20 can be, forexample, generally cylindrically shaped and of a stainless steel orplastic material. The reservoir 20 provides an open top forcommunicating with the neck 19 of bottle 18.

[0051] During use, reservoir 20 has water surface 25 that fluctuatesslightly as water is dispensed and then replenished by bottle 18. One ormore spigots 26, 27 can be provided for withdrawing water contained inreservoir 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, for example, a lefthand spigot 26 has a flow line 35 that extends up to and near thesurface 25 of water contained in reservoir 20. The spigot 26 thusremoves ambient temperature water from reservoir 20 that is not in closeproximity to the cooling coils 28. The spigot 27 provides a port 36 forcommunicating with water contained in reservoir 20. Because therefrigeration coils 28 are positioned at the lower end of reservoir 20,the spigot 26 withdraws cool water. As a practical matter, a waterdispenser apparatus 10 could provide either ambient temperature water,cold water or heated water if, for example, a flow line 35 were to beprovided with a heating element.

[0052] For cooling the water at the lower end portion of the reservoir20, a cooling system that includes a compressor 29 can be provided. Therefrigeration system includes flow lines 30, 31 in combination withcompressor 29 to transmit cooling fluid to coils 28 and then to heatexchanger 32 as part of a system for cooling water in reservoir 20.Power to the apparatus 10 is provided by electrical lines, including anelectrical line 33 provided with plug 34. The plug 34 can be fitted tocontroller 42 having receptacle 44 and plug 43 as shown in FIG. 2. Inthis fashion, electricity can be selectively routed to the compressor 29via electrical line 33 or to the housing 40 containing ozone generator50 using electrical line 41. This feature enables the compressor to bedeactivated when the ozone generator 50 is to be used to transmit ozoneto reservoir 20 for cleaning water contained in it and for scrubbing theinside walls of reservoir 20.

[0053] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 40 includes an ozone generator 50that generates ozone for cleaning water contained in reservoir 20.Additionally, the housing 40 contains a motor drive 53 and blower 54that move air through an ozone generator housing 57 to diffuser 37. Airline 38 communicates between ozone generator housing 57 and ozonediffuser 37. Fitting 39 provides a connection for attaching the exit airflow line 38 to ozone generator 57 as shown in FIG. 1 and 2.

[0054] Housing 40 can be provided with flanges 45 and openings 46 forenabling the housing 40 to be retrofitted to an existing cabinet 11 bybolting the housing 40 to the cabinet 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] In FIG. 2, housing 40 includes a lower end portion 47 and anupper end portion 48. The upper end portion 48 provides an opening 49 towhich ozone generator housing 57 can be affixed. An ozone generator 50is contained within the housing 57 as shown in FIG. 2. Housing 57includes a lower housing section 58 and an upper housing section 59.Flange 60 of lower housing section 58 and flange 61 of upper housingsection 59 each engage gasket 62 upon assembly.

[0056] Bolted connections 63 can be used for attaching the housing 57 tohousing 40 at internally threaded openings 64 on housing 40 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. During use, the controller 42 normally deactivates theozone generator 50 during normal hours when the users are dispensingwater from the apparatus 10. Because the ozone used to disinfectreservoir 20 has a distinctive smell, it is preferable to clean thewater contained in reservoir 20, to clean the inside walls of reservoir20 and the bottle neck 19, at a selected time. The controller 42 couldbe activated for example during early morning hours (e.g. 3:00 a.m.-4:00a.m.) and can be a commercially available controller that activatestransformer 51 and motor drive 53 only after compressor 29 and therefrigeration system have been deactivated by the controller 42. Thisaccomplished by shutting off the flow of electricity to plug 34 andelectric line 33 that supply electricity to compressor 29.

[0057] After electricity is disconnected from compressor 29, transformer51 and motor drive 53 are activated. The transformer 51 produceselectricity with a very high voltage (eg. about 7,000-9,000 VAC range,and ultimately VDC) at ozone generator 50 for generating ozone withinthe confines of ozone generator housing 57. As this ozone is generatedwithin housing 57, air is pumped with air pump 54 into inlet flow line55 and via opening 56 into the interior of housing 57. Optional HEPAfilter 71 removes airborne microorganism before they can enter air pump54 and flow line 55. A dryer (eg. silica gel) can also be used to removehumidity. This positive flow of air pressure into housing 57 causes asimultaneous discharge of air through fitting 39 into air flow line 38.The air flow line 38 then carries air to diffuser 37 (FIGS. 7-14) thatis contained at the bottom at the side wall of reservoir 20. Thespecific placement of diffuser 37 and the flow of air therefromcontaining ozone is shown more particularly in FIGS. 4-14. In FIG. 4, atop view of the reservoir shows that the diffuser 37 preferably extends360 degrees about the periphery of reservoir 20 and at the sidewall 22thereof This is preferable because ozone bubbles 67 are used to scrubthe side wall 22 at the inside surface as shown in FIG. 3.

[0058] The diffuser 37 can be is supported by a plurality of feet 68that extend between the diffuser 37 and a bottom wall 23 of reservoir20. Openings 69 in diffuser 37 are directed at an angle with respect tothe bottom wall 23 and side wall 22 of reservoir 20 as shown in FIG. 6.An angle 70 of preferably about 45 degrees defines the orientation ofopenings 69 with respect to the walls 22, 23. This configuration of theopenings 69 relative to the walls 22, 23 ensures that bubbles 67 will bedischarged outwardly toward side wall 22, to maximize the scrubbingeffect at the interior wall 22 of reservoir 20. This scrubbing actionusing ozone bubbles 67 cleans the sidewall 22 and produces a rollingflow of water within reservoir 20. The bubbles 67 will strike thesurface 25 of the reservoir 20 and flow inwardly. Such a circulationensures that all of the water within the reservoir 20 is cleaned.Further, directing the bubbles from diffuser 37 outwardly toward wall 22ensures that none of the bubbles 67 will enter bottle 18 via neck 19which would cause the device to overflow.

[0059] FIGS. 7-14 show an alternate construction of the diffuser,wherein the diffuser is designated generally by the numeral 37. Diffuser37 has a porous body 72 as shown in FIG. 8 that begins with acylindrically shaped hollow cross section. Porous body 72 can be a foodgrade porous ceramic material. The porous body 72 is generally 0 shapedas shown in FIG. 7, but provides the cross section shown in FIG. 11.FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show the method of construction of the diffuser 37which begins with porous body 72. In FIG. 8, porous body 72 has an innersurface 73 that surrounds hollow bore 75 and an outer surface 74. InFIG. 9, a non-porous coating (e.g. food grade non-porous ceramic thatcan be fired) is provided on porous body 72 to provide an outer coating76 that is substantially impervious to the escape of air. In FIG. 10,rotary grinding tool 88 having rotary shaft 89 is used to grind awaypart of the non-porous coating 76 to provide an exposed face 90 (seeFIGS. 10 and 11). Another method of manufacture could be used that masksthe area that will generate air bubbles. The non-porous coating 76 isthen applied. After application of the non-porous coating, the mask ispeeled away to expose face 90 that will generate the air bubbles.

[0060] When air is injected through inlet elbow fitting 79, the airenters hollow bore 75 and then diffuses through porous body 72. Coating76 prevents the escape of air so that air can only escape throughexposed face 90. Exposed face 90 is positioned on the outer portion of 0shaped diffuser 37 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. An enlarged view of thisexposed face 90 is shown in FIG. 13 with arrows 91 indicating the escapeof bubbles 92.

[0061] The inlet elbow fitting 79 has a body 80 with three legs 81, 82,and 82A extending therefrom. Coupling material 83 such as food gradeepoxy can be used to join the combination of porous body 72 and itscoating 76 to inlet elbow fitting 79. Each of the legs 81, 82, and 82Aprovides an internal hollow flow bore, said bores 84, 85 and 85Aintersecting at body 80 so that air flow can proceed from bore 84 of leg81 to bores 85 of leg 82 and 85A of leg 82A. The leg 81 can provideexternal threads 86 so that it can be connected to an influent air flowline 38. Other connectors could be used on leg 81 such as a stab fittingtype connection, clamp connection or the like. T-fitting 79 at legs 82,82A can provide similar connective material for forming a connectionwith porous body 72 at its inner surface 73. This connective structureon legs 82, 82A can be a stab fitting type connection as shown in FIG.12, external threads, or like connective structure. FIG. 14 shows alongitudinal section through line 14-14 of FIG. 7.

[0062] FIGS. 15-19 show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention designated generally by the numeral 100 in FIG. 15.Water dispenser 100 has a cabinet 101 that can be in the form of aninverted bottle water type cabinet. However, the present invention canbe used with other types of cabinets, such as for example, cabinets thatcontain a bottle of water at the lower end portion of the cabinet, orcabinets that connect directly to a water supply, thus eliminating thesupply bottle.

[0063] Cabinet 101 has an upper cover portion 102 that includes anannular flange 103 surrounding opening 105. Gasket 104 can be used toform a seal between bottle 106 and cabinet 101.

[0064] Bottle 106 has a neck 107 and an opening 108 that communicateswith reservoir 109. Reservoir 109 includes a bottom 110 that can besquare or circular and side walls 111. An outlet 112 at the bottom 110of reservoir 109 communicates with flow channel 113. Flow channel 113has a flow bore 114 for carrying water between reservoir 109 and spigot115.

[0065] In FIGS. 16-18, spigot 115 provides a valve 116 that can begripped and actuated by a user in order to open dispensing outletopening 117 so that water flows via opening 117 into a selected glass,cup or like receptacle. Such a valve 116 for actuating a spigot 115 isknown in the art.

[0066] Spigot flow channel 118 communicates with bore 114 of channel113. In addition to spigot flow channel 118, there are provided onspigot 115 a pair of passages that extend through spigot 115. Thesepassages include first passage 119 and second passage 120. The firstpassage 119 extends to an internally threaded opening 127. Opening 127receives diffuser stone 123 that has an opening 124 through which aircan enter opening 127 and then provide small air bubbles to spigot flowchannel 118 as indicated by arrows 135 in FIG. 16.

[0067] During use, ozone is transmitted via ozone flowline 130 tofitting 128 and then to passageway 119 as indicated by the arrows 136 inFIG. 16. The ozone that flows in line 130 and in passage 119 providessmall bubbles of ozone for disinfecting and sanitizing the spigot flowchannel 118 and also the flow bore 114 of channel 113. Since the spigotchannel is near reservoir walls on most or all cooling water dispensers,it will not contribute to bubbles entering the water bottle and thusdispensing water.

[0068] In FIGS. 15 and 16, the bubbles that enter spigot channel 118 canbe shown flowing in the direction of arrows 135 in the horizontalsection of channel 113 and then to the vertical section of channel 113in FIG. 15 rising upwardly to outlet 112 and entering reservoir 109.Thus, the same bubbles that are used to sanitize spigot channel 118 andchannel 113 also enter and assist in sanitizing reservoir 109.

[0069] Reservoir 109 is also sanitized using flowline 137 that extendsfrom ozone generator module 132 to diffuser 134 in the direction ofarrows 139 in FIG. 15. The second passage 120 receives ozone fromreservoir 109. Ozone flows into ozone flowline 131 that communicateswith fitting 129 and second passage 120 as shown in FIG. 17. The ozoneflowing in second passage 120 communicates with spigot dispensingopening 117 at tangent position 121. This produces a spiraling flow ofozone within dispensing opening 117 as indicated schematically by thespiraling arrow 122 in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0070] Ozone generator module 132 can be comprised of an ozone generator138 and airblower 140. Air flow, schematically indicated by the arrow133 can be provided using a blower for pushing the generated ozone intothe flowlines 130, 131 and 137.

[0071] In FIGS. 20-23, additional constructions for the spigot and thechannels that communicate with the spigot to sanitize it with ozone areshown. In FIG. 20, reservoir 141 includes a sidewall 143 and bottom 144.The reservoir 141 has a single opening 142 that receives a spigot inletportion 155 of spigot 150. In FIGS. 20 and 21, ozone is transmitted toboth the spigot 150 and the reservoir 141 via flowline 130. In FIGS. 20and 21 flowline 130 receives flow directly from blower 140 and ozonegenerator 138 and flowline 131 is eliminated. Rather, ozone flowsthrough flowline 130 to flowline 146A to diffuser 134 and to flowline146B to diffuser 134A.

[0072] Spigot 150 includes flowline 146A,B communicating with fitting145 as shown in FIG. 20. Flowline 146A,B includes a T-portion as shownin FIG. 20 disposed within spigot channel 153. Flowline 146A,B extendsbetween fitting 147 and diffuser 134A. In this fashion, ozone flows fromgenerator 138 via flowline 130 to fitting 145, to flowline 146A, tofitting 147, and then to diffuser 134. Additionally, ozone flows fromgenerator 138 via flowline 130 to fitting 145, to flowline 146B, andthen to diffuser 134A. The only opening that is formed in the walls 143,144 of reservoir 141 is the single opening 142 that receives the spigotinlet portion 155 as shown in FIG. 20.

[0073] In order to operate the spigot 150, valve 152 is provided thatopens channel 153 so that water can flow from reservoir 141 via channel153 to outlet opening 15 1. Arrow 148 in FIG. 20 shows the direction ofozone flow in flowline 130 during use. Annular flange 154 of spigot 150forms an attachment to cabinet 101, being secured in opening 142 usingan interference fit, adhesive, or other suitable connection.

[0074] In FIGS. 22 and 23, two additional constructions for a spigot areshown, designated as spigot 160 in FIG. 22 and spigot 160A in FIG. 23.Spigot 160 in FIG. 22 has a spigot channel 161, annular flange 162 and aspigot inlet portion 164. The spigot 160 also provides an ozone channel165 that communicates with spigot channel 161. Valving member 167prevents the flow of ozone from flowline 130 to directly to water inletopening 156. Rather, when ozone is being dispensed into channel 161,back pressure causes valving member 167 to close. The valving member 167is pivotally attached to spigot 160 at pivot 168.

[0075] The valving member 167 is normally closed due to gravity andbackpressure and opens when water is being dispensed as when valve 152is opened. Valving member 167 can be partially open due to bouyancy.However, it will close after ozone begins to flow as shown by arrows166. The spigot 160 provides the same dispensing portion that includes avalving member 152 and a valve outlet 151 as shown in FIG. 20. Thoseportions have been removed from FIG. 22 for purposes of clarity.

[0076] In FIG. 22, arrow 166 shows the flow of ozone from flowline 130through fitting 163 to ozone channel 165. The ozone flowing in channel165 reaches fitting 147 that is connected to diffuser 134. Ozone flowsfrom flowline 130 to diffuser 134 and without the necessity of a secondopening in reservoir wall 143. Arrow 169 schematically illustrates theopening and closing of valving member 167. -p In FIG. 23, another spigot160A is shown. The spigot 168 is a construction that can be used tomodify an existing spigot because the spigot inlet portion 164A is a“retrofit” part. In FIG. 23, the existing spigot on a cooler/dispenseris milled to receive the retrofit spigot inlet portion 164A. The spigotinlet portion 164A provides water inlet opening 171 and ozone channel170. The ozone channel 170 communicates with a fitting 173 that can beintegrally formed with the spigot inlet portion 164A. Arrow 172 in FIG.23 shows the path of water being dispensed when the valve 152 is openedand water flows from reservoir 141 to water inlet opening 171 and tospigot channel 161. When water is not being dispensed and ozone is to betransmitted via flowline 130, the valving member 167 closes because ofgravity and back pressure. Ozone enters the channel 161 and also theozone channel 170.

[0077] The following table lists the parts numbers and partsdescriptions as used herein and in the drawings attached hereto. PARTSLIST Part Number Description  10 water dispenser  11 cabinet  12 lowerend  13 upper end  14 cover  15 annular flange  16 gasket  17 opening 18 bottle  19 bottle neck  20 reservoir  21 interior  22 reservoir sidewall  23 reservoir bottom wall  24 open top  25 water surface  26 spigot 27 spigot  28 refrigeration coil  29 compressor  30 flow line  31 flowline  32 heat exchanger  33 electrical line  34 plug  35 flow line  36outlet port  37 diffuser   37A diffuser  38 air line  39 fitting  40housing  41 electrical line  42 controller  43 plug  44 receptacle  45flange  46 opening  47 lower end  48 upper end  49 opening  50 ozonegenerator  51 transformer  52 electrical line  53 motor  54 blower  55air line  56 air inlet  57 ozone generator housing  58 lower housingsection  59 upper housing section  60 flange  61 flange  62 gasket  63bolted connection  64 internally threaded opening  65 arrow  66 arrow 67 bubble  68 foot  69 opening  70 angle  71 filter  72 porous body  73inner surface  74 outer surface  75 hollow bore  76 non-porous coating 77 end portion  78 end portion  79 elbow fitting  80 body  81 leg  82leg  83 coupling material  84 bore  85 bore  86 external threads  87stab fitting  88 grinding tool  89 shaft  90 exposed face  91 arrow  92bubble 100 water dispenser 101 cabinet 102 cover 103 annular flange 104gasket 105 opening 106 bottle 107 neck 108 opening 109 reservoir 110bottom 111 wall 112 outlet 113 channel 114 flow bore 115 spigot 116valve 117 dispensing opening 118 spigot flow channel 119 first passage120 second passage 121 tangent position 122 spiral arrow 123 diffuser124 opening 125 O-ring 126 closure cap 127 internally threaded opening128 fitting 129 fitting 130 ozone flowline 131 ozone flowline 132 ozonegenerator module 133 arrow 134 diffuser   134A diffuser 135 arrow 136arrow 137 flowline 138 ozone generator 139 arrow 140 blower 141reservoir 142 opening 143 wall 144 bottom 145 fitting 146 flowline  146A flowline portion   146B flowline portion 147 fitting 148 arrow150 spigot 151 outlet 152 valve 153 spigot channel 154 annular flange155 spigot inlet portion 156 water inlet opening 157 arrow 160 spigot  160A spigot 161 channel 162 annular flange 163 fitting 164 spigotinlet portion   164A spigot inlet portion 165 ozone channel 166 arrow167 valving member 168 pivot 169 arrow 170 ozone channel 171 water inletopening 172 arrow 173 fitting

[0078] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only;the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by thefollowing claims.

1. A bottled water dispenser, comprising: a) a cabinet having upper andlower end portions; b) the upper end portion of the cabinet having acover with an opening for receiving and holding a bottle of water to bedispensed; c) a bottle containing water to be dispensed, said bottlehaving a neck portion and a dispensing outlet portion; d) reservoircontained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with awater surface that communicates with the bottle neck during use; e) oneor more spigots on the cabinet for dispensing water from the reservoir;f) a channel that connects the diffuser for emitting bubbles into thereservoir, said diffuser being disposed within the reservoir; g) anozone generator housing positioned next to the cabinet, said housinghaving an ozone generator inside the housing and air flow lines fortransmitting air to and from the housing interior; and h) a flowlinethat transmits ozone from the ozone generator to the channel.
 2. Thebottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the channel has an inclinedsection.
 3. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the channelincludes first and second intersecting sections.
 4. The bottled waterdispenser of claim 1 wherein the spigot has ports that receive ozone viathe flowline.
 5. The bottled water dispenser of claim 4 wherein theports include a port having a diffuser.
 6. The bottled water dispenserof claim 5 wherein the diffuser is removable.
 7. The bottled waterdispenser of claim 1 further comprising a second flowline thatcommunicates between a spigot and the reservoir.
 8. The bottled waterdispenser of claim 7 further comprising tee fitting for transmittingozone to the first and second flowlines.
 9. The bottled water dispenserof claim 1 wherein the channel includes an inclined section thatcommunicates with the reservoir.
 10. A bottled water dispenser,comprising: a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and aspigot for dispensing water; b) reservoir contained within the cabinet,the reservoir containing water; c) a channel that transmits water fromthe reservoir to the spigot; d) a diffuser for emitting bubbles into thereservoir; e) an ozone generator module positioned next to the cabinet,said generator including a housing having an ozone generator inside thehousing, and a blower for generating air flow; f) a spigot sanitizingconduit that transmits ozone from the ozone generator module to thespigot and channel.
 11. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10 whereinthe channel has an inclined section.
 12. The bottled water dispenser ofclaim 10 wherein the channel includes first and second intersectingsections.
 13. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10 wherein the spigothas ports that receive ozone via the flowline.
 14. The bottled waterdispenser of claim 10 wherein the ports include a port having adiffuser.
 15. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10 wherein thediffuser is removable.
 16. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10further comprising a flowline that communicates between a spigot channeland the reservoir.
 17. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10 furthercomprising tee fitting for transmitting ozone to the first and secondflowlines.
 18. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10 wherein thechannel includes an inclined section that communicates with thereservoir.
 19. The bottled water dispenser of claim 10 wherein theconduit transmits ozone to sanitize the spigot, the spigot channel andthe reservoir.
 20. A method of sanitizing a bottled water dispenserhaving a cabinet with a dispensing spigot, a reservoir and a channelthat connects the spigot and reservoir, comprising the steps of: a)generating ozone with an ozone generator that is positioned next to thecabinet; b) collecting the generated ozone inside of an ozone generatorhousing; c) providing an ozone diffuser inside the reservoir; and d)transmitting ozone from the ozone generator housing to at least thereservoir and the channel.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprisingthe step of transmitting ozone from the channel to the reservoir. 22.The method of claim 20 wherein flowlines communicate between the ozonegenerator and each of the reservoir, channel, and spigot and furthercomprising the step of sanitizing the reservoir and spigot with ozoneusing the flowlines.
 23. The method of claim 20 wherein the flowlinesinclude a flowline that extends between the spigot and reservoir. 24.The method of claim 20 wherein the flowlines include a return flowlinethat returns ozone from the spigot to the channel.
 25. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the flowlines include a return flowline that returnsozone from the spigot to the reservoir.
 26. The method of claim 20further comprising transmitting ozone to two spaced apart ports on thespigot.
 27. The method of claim 20 wherein in step “d” ozone istransmitted to the spigot.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein in step“d” there is a single flowline that enters the reservoir through asingle opening for transmitting ozone to both the reservoir and thechannel.